Headwear

ABSTRACT

Headwear is provided including at least a head fitting portion, wherein the head fitting portion comprises an interior surface and an exterior surface. The interior surface is defined by an interior surface lower section including at least one interior surface lower section operative textile material portion, wherein each of the at least one interior surface lower section operative textile material portion includes at least 75 volume % of an effective material based on the total volume of the interior surface lower section operative textile material portion, and an interior surface remainder including at least one interior surface remainder textile material portion, wherein each of the at least one interior surface remainder textile material portion includes less than 50 volume % of the effective material based on the total volume of the interior surface remainder textile material portion. The effective material is a fibre comprising optically active particles which absorb light at a first wavelength and re-emit light at a second wavelength.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to headwear.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

New fibre compositions are being continuously developed with novel features. Recently, a fibre composition has been developed which, when incorporated in textile materials for the manufacture of certain clothing articles, appears to increase oxygenation levels in human blood cells. Embodiments of this fibre composition, and use in textile material of certain clothing items, is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,074,499. It is always desirable to identify innovative and cost effective applications for such novel materials, so as to increase the utilitarian value of such novel materials.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, there is provided headwear including at least a head fitting portion, wherein the head fitting portion comprises:

-   -   a shell section defined by a shell section textile material,         wherein the shell section textile material includes less than 50         volume % of an effective material based on the total volume of         the shell section textile material, and wherein the shell         section includes an exterior surface and an interior surface,         wherein the exterior surface is joined to the interior surface         at an edge for defining an opening to receive a wearer's head;         and     -   a material band section defined by a material band section         textile material, wherein the material band section textile         material includes at least 75 volume % of the effective material         based on the total volume of the material band section textile         material, wherein the material band section is coupled to the         interior surface of the shell section and disposed proximate to         the edge, such that the material band section is configured to         be disposed opposite to the head of a wearer of the headwear;     -   wherein the effective material is a fibre comprising optically         active particles which absorb light at a first wavelength and         re-emit light at a second wavelength.

In another aspect, there is provided headwear including at least a head fitting portion, wherein the head fitting portion comprises an interior surface and an exterior surface, and wherein the interior surface is defined by:

-   -   an interior surface lower section including at least one         interior surface lower section operative textile material         portion, wherein each of the at least one interior surface lower         section operative textile material portion includes at least 75         volume % of an effective material based on the total volume of         the interior surface lower section operative textile material         portion; and     -   an interior surface remainder including at least one interior         surface remainder textile material portion, wherein each of the         at least one interior surface remainder textile material portion         includes less than 50 volume % of the effective material based         on the total volume of the interior surface remainder textile         material portion;     -   wherein the effective material is a fibre comprising optically         active particles which absorb light at a first wavelength and         re-emit light at a second wavelength.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The method and apparatus of the preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with the following accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the headwear of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view, partially cut-away, of the embodiment in FIG. 1, for purposes of illustrating an interior surface of the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view, partially cut-away, of the embodiment in FIG. 1, for purposes of illustrating certain features of an interior surface of the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view, partially cut-away, of the embodiment in FIG. 1, for purposes of illustrating certain other features of an interior surface of the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view, partially cut-away, of the embodiment in FIG. 1, for purposes of illustrating certain other FIG. 7 is a front perspective view, partially cut-away, of the embodiment in FIG. 1, for purposes of illustrating certain other features of an interior surface of the embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view, partially cut-away, of the embodiment in FIG. 1, for purposes of illustrating certain other features of an interior surface of the embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view, partially cut-away, of another embodiment of the headwear of the present invention, and similar to the embodiment in FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 10 and 11 are schematic illustrations of the textile materials used to manufacture the headwear of the present invention, showing the textile materials in two intermediate forms during the manufacturing process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, there is provided headwear 10 including at least a head fitting portion 8. The head fitting portion 8 includes a shell section 12 and a material band section 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the headwear 10 is in the form of a toque, which is also known as a “ski hat” or “skull cap”.

In some embodiments of the headwear 10, in addition to a head fitting portion 8, there is provided other features to increase the utilitarian value of the headwear. For example, where the headwear is a baseball-style cap, the head fitting portion is a crown portion, and there is further provided a visor coupled to the crown portion. As a further example, where the headwear is a sun visor, the head fitting portion is a rim portion, and there is also further provided a visor.

As used herein, the term “effective material” means a fibre comprising optically active particles which absorb light at a first wavelength and re-emit light at a second wavelength (wherein the second wavelength is different from the first wavelength). Examples of such fibres are described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,074,499 issued to Schnurer et al.

The shell section 12 is defined by a shell section textile material. A suitable shell section textile material is any kind of textile material, including any fabric made through weaving, knitting, crocheting, or bonding, so long as the textile material includes less than 50 volume % of the effective material based on the total volume of the shell section textile material. For example, the shell section textile material includes less than 10 volume % of the effective material based on the total volume of the shell section textile material. For example, the shell portion textile material is knitted merino wool.

The shell section 12 includes an exterior surface 16 and an interior surface 18. The exterior surface 16 is joined to the interior surface 18 at an edge 20. The edge 20 defines an opening 22 configured for receiving the head of a wearer of the headwear 10.

The material band section 14 is defined by a material band section textile material. A suitable material band section textile material is any kind of textile material, including any fabric made through weaving, knitting, crocheting, or bonding, so long as the textile material includes at least 75 volume % of the effective material based on the total volume of the material band section textile material. For example, the material band section textile material is HOLOFIBER™, or a blend of HOLOFIBER™ and one or more natural or synthetic fibres.

The material band section 14 is coupled to the interior surface 18 of the shell section 12 and disposed proximate to the edge 20, such that the material band section 14 is configured to be disposed opposite to, and preferably in contact with, the head of a wearer of the headwear 10. In this respect, the material band section 14 is disposed internally of the head fitting portion 8.

For example, the material band section 14 extends substantially from the edge 20.

For example, the material band section 14 is a liner.

For example, the material band section 14 is configured to extend above and behind the ears and across the forehead of a wearer of the headwear 10.

For example, the material band section 14 defines at least 15% of the surface area of the interior surface 18 of the shell section 12, and less than 50% of the surface area of the interior surface 18 of the shell section 12.

Referring to FIG. 4, for example the material band section 14 has a minimum width of at least 1.5 inches measured along an axis 30 which is normal to the plane 32 parallel to the edge 20.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, for example, the material band section 14 disposed along a minimum perimeter portion 34 of at least 65% of the perimeter 42 of the interior surface 22 of the head fitting portion 8 (the interior surface 22 of the head fitting portion 8 being defined by the combination of the external surface of the material band section 14 and those portions of the interior surface 18 of the shell section 12 which are configured to present an opposing surface to the head of the wearer of the headwear 10), measured in a plane 36 substantially parallel to the edge 20 and co-planar with the minimum perimeter portion 34.

Referring to FIG. 6, in effect, the interior surface 22 of the head fitting portion 8 is defined by an interior surface lower section 26 (which, for example, may be equivalent to the exterior surface of the material band section 14) and an interior surface remainder 28 (which, for example, may be equivalent to those portions of the interior surface 18 of the shell section 12 which are configured to present an opposing surface to the head of the wearer of the headwear 10).

The interior surface lower section 26 includes at least one interior surface lower section operative textile material portion 29. A suitable interior surface lower section operative textile material portion is any kind of textile material, including any fabric made through weaving, knitting, crocheting, or bonding, so long as the textile material includes at least 75 volume % of the effective material based on the total volume of the interior surface lower section operative textile material portion. For example, an interior surface lower section textile material portion is HOLOFIBER™, or a blend of HOLOFIBER™ and one or more natural or synthetic fibres.

For example, the interior surface lower section 26 may also include at least one interior surface lower section filler textile material portion 31 (see FIG. 8). A suitable interior surface lower section filler textile material portion is any kind of textile material, including any fabric made through weaving, knitting, crocheting, or bonding, so long as the textile material includes less than 50 volume % of the effective material based on the total volume of the interior surface lower section filler textile material portion. For example, the interior surface lower section filler textile material portion includes less than 10 volume % of the effective material based on the total volume of the interior surface lower section filler textile material portion. For example, an interior surface lower section filler textile material portion is knitted merino wool.

For example, and referring to FIG. 8, the interior surface lower section 26 may include alternating portions of interior surface lower section operative textile material portion 29 and interior surface lower section filler textile material portion 31.

The interior surface remainder 28 includes at least one interior surface remainder textile material portion. A suitable interior surface remainder textile material portion is any kind of textile material, including any fabric made through weaving, knitting, crocheting, or bonding, so long as the textile material includes less than 50 volume % of the effective material based on the total volume of the interior surface remainder textile material portion. For example, the interior surface remainder textile material portion includes less than 10 volume % of the effective material based on the total volume of the interior surface remainder textile material portion. For example, an interior surface remainder textile material portion is knitted merino wool.

For example, the interior surface lower section 26 extends substantially from the edge 20.

For example, each of those portions of the interior surface lower section 26 which are configured to extend above and behind the ears and across the forehead of the wearer of the headwear 10 are defined by a respective interior surface lower section operative textile material portion.

For example, the sum of the respective surface area of each of the at least one interior surface lower section operative textile material portion of the interior surface lower section 26 defines at least 15% of the surface area of the interior surface 22 of the head fitting portion 8, and less than 50% of the surface area of the interior surface 22 of the head fitting portion 8.

Referring to FIG. 7, for example, each of the at least one interior surface lower section operative textile material portion of the interior surface lower section 26 has a minimum width 27 of at least 1.5 inches measured along an axis 30 which is normal to the plane 32 parallel to the edge 20.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 8, for example, each of the at least one interior surface lower section operative textile material portion of the interior surface lower portion 26 is disposed along a corresponding perimeter portion, and wherein the accumulation of each corresponding perimeter portion 34A defines a minimum perimeter portion of at least 65% of the perimeter 42 of the interior surface 22 of the head fitting portion 8, measured in a plane 36 substantially parallel to the edge 20 and co-planar with the minimum perimeter portion 38.

Referring to FIG. 9, in another embodiment, in addition to being defined by an interior surface lower section 26 and an interior surface remainder 28, the interior surface 22 of the head fitting portion 8 is further defined by an interior surface upper operative textile material section 50. Section 26 and remainder 28 are as defined above. The interior surface upper operative textile material section 50 is disposed above the interior surface lower section 26. The interior surface upper operative textile material section 50 is any kind of textile material, including any fabric made through weaving, knitting, crocheting, or bonding, so long as the textile material includes at least 75 volume % of the effective material based on the total volume of the interior surface upper operative textile material section 50. For example, an interior surface upper operative textile material section 50 is HOLOFIBER™, or a blend of HOLOFIBER™ and one or more natural or synthetic fibres.

It is believed that use of the effective material in the headwear 10 may provide benefits to persons who wear the headwear. There are suggestions in the publicly available literature (see www.holofiber.com, as well as U.S. Pat. No. 7,074,499) that use of an embodiment of the effective material in clothing assists in oxygenation of the skin cells of a human body when the clothing is worn next to the skin. It is believed that wearing of the headwear 10 may promote oxygenation of skin cells in the head region. In this respect, it has been suggested that increased oxygenation to the scalp may stimulate hair follicles (see, for example, www.salonweb.com/follicare.htm, www.ishrs.org/articles/hair-follicle-cloning.htm, and www.lef.org/magazine/mag97/march-cover97.html.)

The headwear 10 may be manufactured using conventional manufacturing processes. For example, head fitting portion textile material, in the form of yarn, is fed into an industrial knitting machine, and is then consecutively followed by material band portion textile material, which is also fed into the industrial knitting machine, to form a panel 60 (see FIG. 10) consisting of an upper band 62 of head fitting portion textile material and a lower band 64 of material band portion textile material. For example, the textile material of the panel is in the form of a jersey stitch (also known as a stocking stitch). The panel is then cut (die-cut, or laser cut, or cut by hand) to form a four dart configuration (see FIG. 11). The lower band is folded over and coupled to the upper band by a blind hem, to form the material band portion 14. The edges of the dart configuration are then serged together so that the headwear 10 assumes its intended form.

Other modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art and, therefore, the invention is defined in the claims. 

1. Headwear including at least a head fitting portion, wherein the head fitting portion comprises: a shell section defined by a shell section textile material, wherein the shell section textile material includes less than 50 volume % of an effective material based on the total volume of the shell section textile material, and wherein the shell section includes an exterior surface and an interior surface, wherein the exterior surface is joined to the interior surface at an edge for defining an opening to receive a wearer's head; and a material band section defined by a material band section textile material, wherein the material band section textile material includes at least 75 volume % of the effective material based on the total volume of the material band section textile material, wherein the material band section is coupled to the interior surface of the shell section and disposed proximate to the edge, such that the material band section is configured to be disposed opposite to the head of a wearer of the headwear; wherein the effective material is a fibre comprising optically active particles which absorb light at a first wavelength and re-emit light at a second wavelength.
 2. The headwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shell section textile material includes less than 10 volume % of the effective material based on the total volume of the shell section textile material.
 3. The headwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material band section is a liner.
 4. The headwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material band section is configured to extend above and behind the ears and across the forehead of a wearer of the headwear.
 5. The headwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material band section defines at least 15% of the surface area of the interior surface of the shell section, and less than 50% of the surface area of the interior surface of the shell section.
 6. The headwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material band section has a minimum width of at least 1.5 inches measured along an axis which is normal to the plane parallel to the edge
 20. 7. The headwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material band section is disposed along a minimum perimeter portion of at least 65% of the perimeter of the interior surface of the head fitting portion, measured in a plane substantially parallel to the edge and co-planar with the minimum perimeter portion.
 8. Headwear including at least a head fitting portion, wherein the head fitting portion comprises an interior surface and an exterior surface, and wherein the interior surface is defined by: an interior surface lower section including at least one interior surface lower section operative textile material portion, wherein each of the at least one interior surface lower section operative textile material portion includes at least 75 volume % of an effective material based on the total volume of the interior surface lower section operative textile material portion; and an interior surface remainder including at least one interior surface remainder textile material portion, wherein each of the at least one interior surface remainder textile material portion includes less than 50 volume % of the effective material based on the total volume of the interior surface remainder textile material portion; wherein the effective material is a fibre comprising optically active particles which absorb light at a first wavelength and re-emit light at a second wavelength.
 9. The headwear as claimed in claim 8, wherein the interior surface remainder textile material portion includes less than 10 volume % of the effective material based on the total volume of the interior surface remainder textile material portion.
 10. The headwear as claimed in claim 8, wherein the interior surface lower section extends substantially from the edge.
 11. The headwear as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of those portions of the interior surface lower section which are configured to extend above and behind the ears and across the forehead of the wearer of the headwear are defined by a respective interior surface lower section operative textile material portion.
 12. The headwear as claimed in claim 8, wherein the sum of the respective surface area of each of the at least one interior surface lower section operative textile material portion of the interior surface lower section defines at least 15% of the surface area of the interior surface of the head fitting portion, and less than 50% of the surface area of the interior surface of the head fitting portion.
 13. The headwear as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of the at least one interior surface lower section operative textile material portion of the interior surface lower section has a minimum width of at least 1.5 inches measured along an axis which is normal to the plane parallel to the edge.
 14. The headwear as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of the at least one interior surface lower section operative textile material portion of the interior surface lower portion is disposed along a corresponding perimeter portion, and wherein the accumulation of each corresponding perimeter portion defines a minimum perimeter portion of at least 65% of the perimeter of the interior surface of the head fitting portion, measured in a plane substantially parallel to the edge and co-planar with the minimum perimeter portion.
 15. The headwear as claimed in claim 8, wherein the interior surface is further defined by an interior surface upper operative textile material section disposed above the interior surface lower section, wherein the interior surface upper operative textile material section includes at least 75 volume % of the effective material based on the total volume of the interior surface upper operative textile material section.
 16. The headwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material band section extends substantially from the edge. 